Chizokho Vero
Kohima | April 23
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today expressed disappointment that the special package for creation of 25,000 jobs for the youth is yet to take off till date, “because we had depended heavily on this scheme while announcing the year of youth empowerment.”
“However, as a launching pad to implement this scheme, a workshop sponsored by the Ministry of DONER was held on 30 to 31 January 2006, at Kohima. On the basis of the recommendations of this workshop an action plan for creation of 25,000 job opportunities is to be formulated and implemented,” Rio informed the inaugural function of state level consultation as part of Youth Employment Summit (YES) campaign which kicked off here today.
He also regretted that the matter has been pending decision in the Ministry of DONER for quite sometime.
It may be recalled that the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during his visit to Nagaland in October 2003 announced a special package for creation of 25,000 jobs for the youth.
“Now, I would like you to discuss during this state consultation how we can go ahead in the matter of creation of 25,000 jobs for our youth. The indicated outlay is Rs. 250 crore,” Rio said.
Rio also desired the state consultation to discuss how best to identify and select the beneficiaries under the CM’s Corpus Fund.
Rio wanted the youth involve into various trades like, barber to beauty saloon, cobbler, driver, mechanic, water carrier, plumber, electrician, repairs of electronic gadgets or even other small time business, where there are no dearth of jobs.
“We must learn the trade or even on all about business and shortly take over the reins since it cannot happen overnight. Horti forest is also another area of high potentiality which will not only give us commercial crops but also help in making the state greener,” Rio maintained.
Under the Chief Minister’s Corpus Fund, the government has selected more than 3500 unemployed youths for financial and technical assistance to enable them to set up their own businesses and become self-employed entrepreneurs, Rio said adding that more than 3000 youths has been assisted under PMRY scheme.
Rio appealed to beneficiaries under such schemes, not to consume the capital or seed money but to invest it judiciously so that it yields the desired results.
“Do not eat the seed, learn to save, invest then eat the fruits, otherwise the vicious circle cannot be broken,” he added.
Under CM’s Corpus Fund, the government has selected 1496 educated youths and sent them for job-oriented trainings at the ITFT Chandigarh, Frankfin Institute at Shillong, Institute of Toy Making Technology, Kolkatta and various other job oriented training institute, Rio informed.
35 trained youth are now engaged in Lady Bug Toy Making unit at Kohima. More than 500 of those trained in ITFT had already got job placements in various multinational companies, hotels, airlines and other establishment outside the state. Some of them got jobs in Dubai also.
Giving to understand that the state level consultation programme is being organized basically to create a “bank of ideas” which would aid the government and other stake holders in chalking out programmes and strategies for creation of employment opportunities for the youth, Rio hoped that the consultation will come out with practical ideas and suggestions to enhance the success rate of the various existing schemes and if necessary, to suggest required modifications, or introduction of new schemes.
Rio felt that one of the most important objectives of the ongoing state consultation should be to bring about change of attitude in the mindset of the youth.
Firstly, the mindset of dependency should be replaced by that of independence and self-reliance. “At present the Naga society is essentiality a consumerists society because were are still importing most of our requirements while we are exporting very little to offset the import. Even in agriculture produce which is our mainstay we are still dependent on the imports.
Rio also felt that the youth should give up depending on their parents, or the government for almost everything. They should have confidence in themselves, and make use of their talents, their knowledge, and their energies. They should become more aware of their duties and obligations to their parents and the society they belong, instead of always demanding for their rights only. Let us remember rights and duties that must go together.
Rio also stressed on the need to change the attitude towards manual work. Since the theme of this state consultation is “Back to the Land,” it should focus on re-inventing the dignity of labour amongst the youth, he said.
“Our disinclination or reluctance to do various kinds of manual works has led to many outsiders coming to Nagaland to do these jobs for us,” Rio said and further informed that the recent survey conducted by the Directorate of Evaluation has revealed that in the districts of Dimapur, Kohima and Mokokchung alone, there are more than 45,000 non-Nagas being employed in gainful employment, earning about Rs. 450 crore annually.
Their per capital monthly income has been estimated at Rs. 8000 which is much above the monthly per capita of the state.
This is happening when we have thousands of our youth seeking for gainful employment, Rio said and challenged the youth to ask themselves “why the Nagas cannot perform our own jobs, and why we should be so dependent on outsiders to do our manual work.”
Any country including the developed countries also do all kinds of works by themselves from the top of the lowest jobs, Rio said and urged upon the gathering to rediscover the dignity of manual work “because it is necessary for our survival as self-respecting people.”
Reiterating that the strength of the youth will become the strength of our society, Rio called the youth to take advantage of the government’s policy of youth empowerment, to avail the various facilities offered and prepare themselves to become productive and responsible citizens and thereby create a vibrant Naga society.
“I believe in you, because I know you can do it,” the Chief Minister added.
Hekani Jakhalu, director, Youthnet/state coordinator YES Nagaland Chapter said that YES campaign will go for three months covering all the 11 districts, which will later draw “Kohima Declaration” on employment generation and other larger issues confronting the present society.
Earlier, welcome address was delivered by V. Phushika Aomi, president, Naga Students’ Federation while Chief Secretary Lalhuma, IAS, gave concluding remarks. Yamuna Pathak, Deputy Country co-ordinator, YES India also spoke on the occasion.
A series of technical session being held ATI, will go on till April 24.
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